Film strip handling and splicing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for splicing smaller film strips end-to-end so as to produce a single, elongated strip which is more convenient and advantageous for continuous, economical film development. With minimal hand operations, successive film strips are trimmed, advanced to a splicing station, and joined to each other along abutting adjacent ends. The foregoing mode of operation is achieved without contact which would adversely effect the undeveloped film and, because of nominal hand operations, is able to be practiced in a darkened environment which does not expose the film.

United States Patent Inventor Michael Savarick 218 Somerset Drive,Hewlett, N.Y. 11557 Appl. No. 859,138 Filed Sept. 18, I969 Patented Nov.23, I971 FILM STRIP HANDLING AND SPLICING APPARATUS 4 Claims, 7 DrawingFigs.

u.s. c1 156/505, 156/502, 352/130 1111.01 B3lf5/06, B65h 19/18 Field 6:Search 156/502,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,130,100 4/1964 Hasselquist156/507 X 3,379,597 4/1968 Di Francesco 156/506 PrimaryExaminer-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-J. J. Devitt A!l0rney-Myron Amer ABSTRACT: An apparatus for splicing smaller film stripsendto-end so as to produce a single, elongated strip which is moreconvenient and advantageous for continuous, economical film development.With minimal hand operations, successive film strips are trimmed,advanced to a splicing station, and joined to each other along abuttingadjacent ends. The foregoing mode of operation is achieved withoutcontact which would adversely effect the undeveloped film and, becauseof nominal hand operations, is able to be practiced in a darkenedenvironment which does not expose the film.

PATENTEDnuv 23 lQTl SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR MICHAEL SAVARICK ATTORNEYPATENTEDuuv 2a IHYI 3.622.425

SHEET 2 0F 2 INVENTOR MICHAEL SAVARICK ATTORNEY FILM STRIP HANDLING ANDSPLICING APPARATUS The present invention relates generally to film striphandling preparatory to and during the splicing thereof, and moreparticularly to improvements in apparatus for splicing film strips toeach other in the production of a single, elongated strip.

In the developing of film on a commercial and thus largescale basis, ithas been found desirable to splice the undeveloped film strips end toend to each other and thereby create a single, elongated strip which ismore conveniently handled during developing of the film. Specifically,the spliced film strips are put up on a supply spool or reel and arethen fed along a system of rollers through film-developing chemicalswhich, of course, results in the development of the film. Afterwards,the single strip is separated into the original smaller strips andfurther processed.

There is thus a need for an apparatus for producing the foregoingconvenient-to-handle elongated film strip. The available prior artsplicing apparatus cannot produce successively joined film strips. Amongother reasons, these apparatus require that the film strips or lengthsto be spliced together be moved from separated clearance positions intoan adjacent splicing position and, after splicing, be cleared from theapparatus. Thus, two, or at best a small number of film strips, can onlybe joined using prior art splicing apparatus, whereas it is necessaryfor successive film strips to be handled on a continuous basis in orderto economically produce the referred to single film strip.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedfilm strip splicing apparatus overcoming the foregoing and othershortcomings of the prior art. Specifically, it is an object to provideapparatus having an automated mode of operation during which successivefilm strips are spliced into a single, convenient-to-handle largelength. Moreover, the construction and mode of operation of theapparatus hereof is consistent with minimal hand operations so that theapparatus can readily be used in a darkened environment, as is requiredto prevent film exposure, where such hand operations cannot readily beperformed. Further, film handling is achieved without adverse effect onthe emulsion and delicate portions of the undeveloped film strips.

An apparatus for producing spliced film strips demonstrating objects andadvantages of the present invention includes means defining a feed pathleading to and beyond a splicing station, and separately operable meansfor urging film strips through feed movement in accordance withprescribed movement sequences. Specifically, a leading end of a firstfilm strip is moved adjacent a trailing end of a second film stripalready in position at the splicing station and, after splicing of theseadjacent film ends together, both strips are moved along the feed pathuntil the trailing end of the first strip is in splicing position at thesplicing station whereupon the cycle is repeated. As will be explainedsubsequently, the trimming of each film strip to a precise length prioradvancement to the splicing station facilitates the automated handlingand positioning thereof and, in other respects as well, the made ofoperation provides the desired successive splicing of film strips with aminimum possibility of malfunctioning.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features andadvantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated byreference to the following detailed description of a presentlypreferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance withthe present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a film strip handling and splicing ap paratusaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus showing furtherstructural features thereof;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the movement of film strips during theoperation of the apparatus and is best understood from a comparison withFIGS. 1 and 2, and for this reason, has been placed between thesefigures;

FIG. 4 is a partial front elevational view, on an enlarged scale and insection taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1, showing further structuraldetails of the feed path of the film strip;

FIG. 5 is similarly a partial elevational view, on an enlarged scale, ofa portion of a sprocket utilized for urging the film strips through feedmovements;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the splice which joinstogether successive film strips; and

FIG. 7 illustrates the manner in which a typical film strip is removedfrom a supply spool thereof preparatory to being fed into the apparatushereof.

Reference is now made to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1-3wherein there is shown a film strip handling and splicing apparatus,generally designed 10, demonstrating objects and advantages of thepresent invention. In the developi ng of film on a commercial and thuslarge-scale basis, it has been found desirable to splice the undevelopedfilm strips end to end to each other into an elongated single filmstrip. These spliced film strips, for convenience in handling, are thenput up on a supply spool and are then appropriately supported and fedalong a system of rollers through film developing chemicals which, ofcourse, result in the development of the film. The individuallydeveloped film strips are then detached from each other and are returnedto their owners. Apparatus 10, as will be described in detailsubsequently herein, is effective in achieving the splicing ofsuccessive film strips to each other and thus is a significant advancein the art of film development techniques and procedures.

Apparatus 10 includes a generally U-shaped elongated guide member 12which defines a feed path for the film strips. Successive film stripsare fed in the feed direction 14, or, in other words, from left to rightas viewed in FIG. 2, along the guide 12. It is during this feed movement14 that the leading and trailing ends of a film strip are trimmed, andthe trimmed film strip brought into adjacent position with a precedingtrimmed film strip. The two film strips are spliced together, and thenboth are cleared from the feed path or guide 12 to the point where thetrailing end thereof is in splicing position preparatory to the nextsplicing operation. As just described, this efficient mode of operationof the apparatus It) enables it not only to achieve splicing of filmstrips end to end to each other but also enables this result to beachieved with minimum intervention of any workers and thus in a darkenedenvironment which, of course, is necessary in order not to prematurelyexpose the film. Additionally, the movement of the film, as will beapparent subsequently, is achieved in a way which does not adverselyeffect the emulsion on the body of the film. Thus, there is nointerference with conditions for proper development of the film.

Continuing now with a description of the apparatus 10, it will beunderstood that located along the feed path 12, approximately at amedial location therealong, is a splicing station, as at 16, at whichthere is located a conventional splicing mechanism 18. Splicingmechanism 18 may be any one of several commercially available models,such as, for example, the Unicorn" film splicer sold by the HollywoodFilm Company of Hollywood, California. This mechanism is effective inapplying a strip of adhesive tape across the abutting ends of adjacentfilm strips. Since the operation of the mechanism 18 is well known, forbrevitys sake, the description of its mode of operation will be omittedexcept as it relates to and is necessary for an understanding of thepresent invention.

In addition to the splicing station 16, there are also two spaced-apartcutting stations, as at 20 and 22, which are located along the feedpath, and more particularly along the front portion thereof. Thesecutting stations, as will be explained in greater detail subsequently,are effective in trimming the leading and trailing ends of a film strippreparatory to the delivery of the film strip to the splicing station16. A further station or position which should be noted as existingalong the feed path 12 is starting position 24 for each film strip fedinto the apparatus 10 for handling and splicing.

With the above general understanding of the apparatus 10, it is believedthat the subsequent detailed description of the construction and mode ofoperation thereof can perhaps best be understood if the mode ofoperation is first described with reference to the flow diagram of FIG.3. Specifically, as intended to be illustrated in FIG. 3, the assumedstarting condition for splicing operation is when a typical film strip26 has been urged through feed movement along feed path 12 to the extentwhere the trailing end 28 thereof is in splicing position at splicingstation 16. At this time, the next succeeding film strip 30 is manuallyintroduced into the apparatus 10. That is, the leading end 32 of thisstrip is manually placed in the guide member 12 and move therealonguntil a first encountered notch 34 located along a marginal edge of thestrip 30 is engaged and locates the strip end 32 at the startingposition 24. It will soon be described how this is accuratelydetermined. Next, the first prescribed movement sequence of the filmstrips occurs. This consists of the advancement of the film strip 30such that the leading end 32 is moved from the starting position 24 tothe cutting station 22 at which it is trimmed by a cutting stroke ofknife 36. Also, in a preferred embodiment, strip end 32 is perforatedwith an identification number which facilitates later processing of thestrip 30. The next movement sequence consists of further advancement ofthe strip 30 in the feed direction 14 such that the film strip leadingend 32 is positioned adjacent the trailing end 28 of the film strip 26.Once the film strip ends 32 and 28 abut each other, splicing mechanism18 is operated so as to deposit an adhesive strip 36 across these filmends so as to achieve splicing together of the film strips 26 and 30.The next movement sequence consists of clearing of the spliced togetherfilm strips 26 and 30 from the guide 12. This is done to the extentwhere the trailing end 38 of the film strip 30 is advanced to theposition previously occupied by the trailing end 28 of the precedingfilm strip 26. The cycle is then repeated when the third film strip 40is manually introduced into the apparatus and the leading end 42 thereofadvanced to the starting position 24.

Returning again to the description of the construction of apparatus 10,it will be noted that it includes an appropriate support frame 44 formaintaining the guide 12 in an elevated, substantially horizontalorientation. Guide 12, as best shown in FIG. 4, is substantiallyU-shaped in cross section and includes a bottom wall 46 and oppositesidewalls 48 and 50 which are each provided with facing notches 52 foraccommodating the marginal edges of a film strip while the body of thestrip is maintained in a clearance position above the bottom wall 46. Inthis way, nothing is brought into contact with the emulsion along thebody of the film strip.

Specifically, a typical film strip, which as shown in FIG. 7 iscontained on a supply spool 54, is prepared for introduction into theapparatus 10 by having the supply spool 54 journaled for rotationbetween the bifurcated anns of a holding bracket 56. Actual threading ofthe film strip consists of separation of the film strip proper,designated 30 in FIG. 7, from the usual leader strip 58 and theplacement thereof into the guide notches 52 to an extent which projectsthe film leading edge 32 just beyond the starting position 24. Duringthis positioning of the film strip 30 it is threaded beneath, and onlyin edge contact with a pivotally mounted roller 60 which has a normalposition closing a switch 62. Film strip 30 can be typically either al2-frame strip or a -frame strip which, in turn, would determine itslength. Naturally, if it is a l2-frame strip it is shorter than it wouldbe if it contains 20 frames. The length of the film strip is sensed bythe roller 60 in that when the end of the strip, or more particularlythe waste length portion 64 thereof (see FIG. 7) is reached, the filmstrip 30 is pulled taut between its attachment to the supply spool 54and its engagement with the means of apparatus 10 which is effective inurging it through feed movement 14 along the guide 12. When strip 30becomes taut in the manner just described, it is effective in raisingand thus urging the roller 30 through pivotal movement 66 which has theeffect of releasing switch 62 for operation. Operation of switch 62, inturn, will be understood to result in operation of a cutter 68 atcutting station 20 such that film strip 30 is severed at an appropriatelocation, as at 70 in FIG. 7, from the length portion thereof attachedto the supply spool 54.

At this convenient point in the description, it should be understoodthat the severing of the trailing end 38 of the film strip 30 will occurprior to the advancement of the film strip to the cutting station 22 ifthe film strip is of a short l2-frame length or, on the other hand, itwill occur just prior to the advancement of this film strip into thesplicing station 16 if it is of a comparatively long 20-frame filmstrip. That is, related to the illustration of FIG. 3, the trimming of al2-frame strip 30 will occur between the first and second movements,whereas the trimming of the trailing end 38 of a longer 20-frame filmstrip will occur between the second and third movements.

The preferred means of urging the film strips through feed movement 14consists of first and second sprockets 72 and 74, each having peripheralcogs, individually and collectively designated 76, circumferentiallyspaced thereabout the same distance as the distance between typicalnotches, designated 78 in FIG. 6, which are provided along a marginaledge of each of the film strips. Sprockets 72 and 74 are appropriatelymounted for rotation on supporting shafts 80 which each terminate insprockets 82. Trained about the sprockets 82, as well as about idlersprockets 84 and a driving sprocket 86, is an endless loop of chain 88.Motor operating via a pulley belt 92 and speed control gear box 94 iseffective in powering the driving sprocket 86 in rotation. During atypical interval of operation, the chain drive 88 is continuouslypowering the support shafts 80 in rotation, but this is not transmittedand thus effective in correspondingly driving either of the sprockets 72or 74 in rotation until operation of magnetic clutches 96 and 98 havingan interposed position between these support shafts 80 and the sprocket72 and 74. Thus, the power for driving either of the sprockets 72 and 74is always available and is effectively used whenever either or both ofthe magnetic clutches 96 and 98 are operated.

To achieve the positioning of the leading end 32 of film strip 30 atstarting station 24, this end of the film strip is projected within theforward end of the guide 12 until the first encountered film notch 34engages with a retractable cog 100 of the sprocket 72. The foregoing ismore particularly illustrated in FIG. 5 wherein it is shown that unlikethe stationary, previously referred to cogs 76, sprocket 72 has aretractable cog 100 formed by an L-shaped member 102 movable about pivot104 against a bias spring 106. That is, during clockwise rotation ofsprocket 72 which results in feed movement 14, cog 100 is effective tourge the film strip to which it is engaged through feed movement 14.But, when sprocket 72 is stationary, it is possible to slide a filmstrip in the direction 14 along the periphery of this sprocket causingthe body 102 to partake of pivotal retracting movement within a notch106 of the sprocket. When notch 34 of the film strip, however, passesover the cog 100, this cog is projected by the bias spring 106 throughthe notch and thus into engagement with the film strip. Thus, thestarting position of the sprocket 72 is the position in which theretractable cog 100 thereof is the one projected into the guide notch 52so as to engage the film notch 34. This, of course, also establishes thestarting position 24 of the film strip.

Once engagement is established between the sprocket 72 and film strip30, as at film notch 34, operation of the clutch 96 will be understoodto result in clockwise rotation (as viewed in FIG. 2) of sprocket 72 andthus feed movement 14 of the film strip 30. As a preferred technique ofpermitting advancement by the sprocket 72 of the film strip 30 fromposition to position, say, for example, from starting position 24 tocutting station 22, use is made of strategically located stops,individually and collectively designated 108, on the rear surfaces ofthe sprocket 72. Cooperating with the stops 108 is a device 110 whichconsists, more particularly, of a solenoid having a movement-blockingplunger 112 normally extended into the path of movement of the stop 108.That is, when plunger 112 is fully extended it is engaged by a stop 108and thus prevents continued rotation of the sprocket 72. At this time,slippage occurs in the clutch 96. When, however, solenoid 110 isoperated and plunger 112 is temporarily withdrawn and afterwards is thenpermitted to return to its blocking position, sprocket 72 is free torotate at least until abutment with a next encountered stop 108. In thismanner, by properly spacing the stops 108 circumferentially about thesprocket 72 it is possible to achieve the step-by-step advancement of afilm strip in the manner already indicated in the description of thealready noted FIG. 3 movement sequences.

. Once the film strip 30 is advanced so that the leading edge 32 thereofis adjacent to the trailing edge 38 of the previously processed filmstrip 26, both the sprockets 72 and 74 are disconnected from theirrespective drives and the splicing mechanism 18 is operated. As shown inFIG. 6, this results in the deposit of an adhesive strip 36 in splicingrelation about the abutting film ends 32, 38. Next, both magneticclutches 96 and 98 are operated to, in turn, result in simultaneousrotation of the sprockets 72 and 74.

Simultaneous rotation of the sprockets 72 and 74 results in the clearingof the spliced together film strips 30 and 26 from the guide 12. Thisclearing operation is conducted, however, only until the trailing end 38of film strip 30 is moved into splicing position at the splicingstations 16. During this movement, film end 38 is, of course, disengagedfrom the sprocket 72, this disengagement, of course, not necessarilycoinciding with the movement of the special retractable cog 100 into thestarting position of the sprocket 72. Thus, sprocket 72 typically isrequired to be rotated after disengagement of the film strip 30 with itfor an extent which positions the retractable cob 100 in the desiredstarting position. Meanwhile, sprocket 74 is rotated for a sufficientextent to result in the proper positioning of the film end 38 at thesplicing station 16. In this connection, it will be recalled that thefront and leading ends 32 and 38 of the film strip 30 have been trimmedby the cutters 36 and 68 so that the exact length of the film strip 30is a known quantity which, in turn, requires positioning movement by acorrespondingly known number of revolutions, driving operation of clutch98 is terminated to, in turn, terminate rotation of the sprocket 74.

Apparatus is completed by a takeup spool or reel 114 for the splicedtogether film strips. Reel 114 is intermittently operated by a takeupmotor 116. During intervals of nonoperation, any slack in thespliced-together film strips is taken up by an appropriate takeupmechanism 118.

From the foregoing description it should be readily appreciated that theapparatus 10 is adapted, in a noteworthy manner, to achieve end-to-endsplicing of film strips with a minimum of manual operations. Thus,apparatus 10 is advantageously operated in a darkened environment inwhich it would be difficult to perform any manual operation. Moreover,despite extensive handling of the film strips, there is no contact madewith the emulsion on the body of the film strips and thus the possibleadverse effect on the quality of pictures developed from the film stripsis minimized despite the processing and handling of the film strips bythe apparatus 10.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in theforegoing disclosure and in some instances some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures.

What is claimed is:

l. A film strip handling and splicing apparatus comprising an elongatedguide including a bottom wall and opposite sidewalls defining a filmstrip feed path, said sidewalls having notches in facing relationtherein at locations above said bottom wall so that the oppositemarginal sides of each processed film strip are accommodated in saidnotches while said film strip is held in a clearance position above saidbottom wall, a film splicing station located along said feed path,independently operable first and second film-strip-feeding meansrespectively operatively arranged at opposite front and termmal ends 0said feed path to urge successive film strips through feed movement inaccordance with a prescribed movement sequence along said feed path, andcontrol means for operating said film-strip-feeding means in accordancewith said prescribed movement sequence such that a leading end of afirst film strip is moved by said first film-strip-feeding meansadjacent a trailing end of a second film strip then in position at saidsplicing station preparatory to the splicing of said film stripstogether and thereafter both said first and second filmstrip-feedingmeans are simultaneously operated to clear said spliced film strips fromsaid feed path until the trailing end of said first film strip is atsaid splicing station.

2. A film strip handling and splicing apparatus as defined in claim 1wherein each said film-strip-feeding means is a sprocket journaled forrotation and having cogs circumferentially spaced about the peripherythereof adapted to extend into said notch of at least one said sidewallinto engagement with said film strip, whereby said sprocket is effectiveto urge said engaged film strip through feed movement along said guideupon rotation thereof.

3. A film strip handling and splicing apparatus as defined in claim 1including first and second cutting stations operatively arranged alongsaid front end of said feed path effective to trim the leading andtrailing ends of each said film strip preparatory to the positioningthereof at said splicing station.

4. A film strip handling and splicing apparatus as defined in claim 3wherein said cutting station for trimming said trailing end of each saidfilm strip includes cutting means and also control means for operatingsaid cutting means in response to the length of said film strip.

* I I l

2. A film strip handling and splicing apparatus as defined in claim 1wherein each said film-strip-feeding means is a sprocket journaled forrotation and having cogs circumferentially spaced about the peripherythereof adapted to extend into said notch of at least one said sidewallinto engagement with said film strip, whereby said sprocket is effectiveto urge said engaged film strip through feed movement along said guideupon rotation thereof.
 3. A film strip handling and splicing apparatusas defined in claim 1 including first and second cutting stationsoperatively arranged along sAid front end of said feed path effective totrim the leading and trailing ends of each said film strip preparatoryto the positioning thereof at said splicing station.
 4. A film striphandling and splicing apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein saidcutting station for trimming said trailing end of each said film stripincludes cutting means and also control means for operating said cuttingmeans in response to the length of said film strip.